As with any new romance, the early days of a relationship can seem electric, impulsive, and exciting. Naturally, you want to do anything together, and almost everything your partner does will amaze you that little bit more. However, after the ‘honeymoon period,’ it may seem like that initial spark is fading. That’s only natural, but it isn’t a reason to become complacent with your partner. With the right choices—and with conscious decision-making—your relationship can continue to feel exceptional ten, thirty, or fifty years down the line.
Read on to discover eight significant ways to ensure your romance lasts a lifetime:
- Date nights, date lunches, and date hours
You may have conflicting schedules, be short on time or patience, but thankfully there are ways to continue ‘dating’ each other years or even decades into your relationship. No, this doesn’t mean you need a regular ‘date night’ because life may get in your way. What it does mean is that you should dedicate time to one another whenever possible. Go shopping together. Meet up on your lunch break. Have Saturday morning brunch and then go for a walk. Whatever it takes, take brief pauses from your schedules to ensure you’re getting face time. Prioritize having an honest-to-goodness conversation about irrelevant things, and the romance will resurface pretty quickly!
- Laugh together
It’s fair to say that you know your partner almost as well as you know yourself, so you likely know what it takes to make them laugh. So stay in touch with their happiness by lightening the mood at least once per day or just doing something to make them smile. As the adage goes, laughter typically is the best medicine.
- Reminisce
As mentioned earlier, it can be challenging to find time to ‘date’ your partner when you’re so far into your relationship. So, be sure to remind your partner you value all the things they’ve done for you in the past—even if it’s just something along the lines of dinners you enjoyed together in the old days. Reminding them will make your partner feel good about themselves and reinforce that your relationship has an unshakeable foundation, even from the start.
- Praise them whenever possible
Sure, overdoing praise may make it feel cheap. Still, remind your partner as often as possible about the aspects you like about them, even if it’s as simple as how great they look in a particular shirt or if their eyes look extra brilliant in a given moment.
- Enjoy solo time with the in-laws
Families can be complicated. Friends can be temperamental. These are facts of life and are especially true when they are not your friends or family. Yes, your partner’s uncle might be a bit too controversial at times, and their best friend might be a drunken liability. Nevertheless, your partner sees past their flaws, and it will make them happy if you can too.
Be personable with your partner’s social circles. Ask how they are doing. Smile during conversations with them. Listen when they talk to you. If your partner feels as though you and their parents can co-mingle without any hassle, that makes their life much easier and makes everyone feel closer to one another.
- Stop; don’t speak
You want the best for your partner, but sometimes it’s tricky to know when you’re doing more harm than good. Your partner is an intelligent person, so they are probably aware of some solutions to their problems. If they come home and need to rant, let them rant; make a mental note of a solution to recommend later, but for the time being, let them know they are being heard. It can make a world of difference.
- Don’t forget to touch
We aren’t encouraging PDA in the middle of the street, but it is worth noting that touching your loved one releases oxytocin, otherwise known as the ‘happy hormone.’ Touch their cheek. Touch their arm. Brief tiny caresses against their skin may improve your partner’s mood and show them that you love them.
- Improve yourself and commit to self-growth
Once again, it is worth stating that you shouldn’t be complacent in your relationship. Yes, spending time on your hobbies is good for your mental health, as is hanging out in your social circles. But even if you’re married with kids, self-improvement is a great way to impress them. Getting better at things and learning new facts will keep your partner on their toes, constantly surprised by your willingness to apply yourself to novel things or experiences.
No matter what stage your romance is in, it is crucial to keep your passion as electric, impulsive, and exciting as the first days of your relationship. By being mindful of your actions, you can continue to “date” years after you have committed yourself to one another. Together you can explore, have fun, and grow with one another for decades to come.